Knife for Canoing

J

jim preston

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Jul 22, 2007
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I'm going canoeing starting the 31st, up in the boundry waters of Minnesota. I fly to Minneapolis and then to Delouth and spend fifteen days canoeing, portaging, and rock climbing with six other people and two instructors (Otward Bound).
Now I really don't want to be in the wilderness without a knife of somesort. I have a CRKT M60 SOFTB, the one with the shortest blade, but it had the weird thigh-sheath system I don't like. I also have a crkt m16, buck 110 and an SAK with pretty much everything except a saw. The SAK also has a magnifying glass which I suppose could be used to light a fire, though conditions would have to be right. I figure on carrying the SAK in a nylon belt pouch. What do you think?
Oh, can you recomend a good belt that would be avaliable from REI/GOPC or Walmart/Dicks?
 
If you have a few weeks (maybe even a week) before you're trip, I'll recommend getting a stainless steel Mora knife from Ragnar at Ragweed Forge: http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

I carry a Frosts # 755 in a pouch on the back of my PFD. It has come in handy a few times.


Otherwise, if the blade needs to be acquired from the sources you mentioned, I'd skip REI (pricey) and get a Buck Special from Dick's. Or, just pick something you like. Anything will work, as long as you can keep it sharp.
 
I have the Eriksson 946 and 746 Moras that I use for canoeing. They work great in wet environments. I used one to cut up one of those big backyard rubber pools with the inflatable top rings. This thing had been sitting in my backyard for over a year deflated and full of algae, mud , grass, etc. My Mora sliced the whole thing up like a hot knife through butter and even with my hands covered in wet slime, I could still maintain a good solid grip. I know that's not an example of canoeing but it showed me how well these knives could perform in those kind of conditions. I also have the stainless clipper, but I prefer the other 2.
 
The boundary waters are only a gun shot blast from where I live. This is boreal forest with alot of lakes. Beautiful. Glad you waited until the end of the month. August is the best month of the year for summer activities and the bugs will have settled down. Bring bug spray, you will still need some.

For knives and canoing, carry a fiixed blade of your choice with a 5 inch blade give or take an inch. A buck 110 or similar locking folder as your second knife. Carry both on your belt so that they are in reach when you need them. Having them on the belt makes sence just incase you have an unfortunate accident and dump the canoe over. That way the knives are with you and not at the bottom of the lake.

Carry a swede saw for cutting up firewood. Some campsites are well used and firewood is harder to come by, so a saw makes sence.

Enjoy your trip.
 
in canoing I packed a small fixed blade, but would have been lost without my much used SAK.
 
Whatever else you carry, I would take a small to medium fixed for sure. It would most likely be a Clipper, or other breed of Mora in SS, and with a very sharp, but coarse toothy edge on it to quickly dispatch rope, cord etc. There is quite a difference in push cutting rope on a flat surface, under controlled settings with a super slick polished edge, and scrambling to saw at a rope with that same super slick edge in a watery, gurgling setting. For me, although I LOVE polished edges, my "river edge" is never slicker than my Norton India fine stone. That puts a rope eating edge on a blade for sure.
 
This is my sons Mora at the top of the pic and I think it is called the Frosts River knife as it was made for canoeing and stuff !!!
ProspectLake008.jpg
 
I carry a Becker Necker when in my canoe. Its really handy to have a neck knife that is easily reached. You probably won't be able to find one, but you may want to look for a different neck knife, there perfect for canoeing.
 
troutfisher13111 said:
I carry a Becker Necker when in my canoe. Its really handy to have a neck knife that is easily reached. You probably won't be able to find one, but you may want to look for a different neck knife, there perfect for canoeing.
Click to expand...

+1,

A stainless mora on your PFD or around your neck is real hard to beat. Chris
 
troutfisher13111 said:
I carry a Becker Necker when in my canoe. Its really handy to have a neck knife that is easily reached. You probably won't be able to find one, but you may want to look for a different neck knife, there perfect for canoeing.
Click to expand...


I agree with this, I spent a lot of time as a kid on the front of a johnboat, running trotlines, and now a lot floating in a canoe. I wear a neck knife every time I go out on the water in canoe or boat, It is the handiest knife to access, does not get in the way when leaning back, etc.
 
From Walmart, which is probably quick and close, a Buck Special or Buck Nighthawk would be decent choices. I agree with taking one fixed blade, worn on your belt, and one folding knife or neck knife, also worn on your person.

In addition, it's always smart to have a signal whistle and a signal mirror on yourself. I wear mine on a piece of paracord around my neck. Finally, it's wise to have a metal match/firesteel and a portable sharpener on your person when in the wilderness (the rule of 5, I was trained with - a fixed blade knife, a signal mirror, a signal whistle, a firesteel, and a small knife sharpener, always on your person when in the wilderness). :)
 
The F1, or the BRKT Rivers Edge come to mind.
 
The knives you have are prefectly useable. I would add something like a small Fiskars axe and a saw like the Sven Saw or the Kershaw folding saw. Moras are great and cheap, so why not! Like the others, I rigged a mora on my PFD for kayaking in case I got tangled in line, etc. Knowing what I know now, I'd rig a mora and a small PSK on my PFD in case I dump the boat and lose my gear.

Now, if you're looking for an excuse to buy a new knife (wink, wink), I agree with Fiddleback --- Fallkniven F1 is a wonderful knife.

Bon voyage!
 
Neck knife is good, as is a blade mounted on your life jacket. The summer before I worked at a YMCA camp on Burntside Lake near Ely, four decades ago (!) a counselor there died when she stabbed herself inside her mouth. She was in a canoe being lined down some rapids, and was cutting through the line rope toward herself. I guess the line was taut and the knife sharp because it came back before she could arrest the blade. Nothing anyone could do. So be careful cutting stuff aboard your canoe.
 
A couple of Mora's in stainless in your gear and a Gerber River Shorty mounted on your pfd. The Shorty will probably need a little edge mod. I sharpened bottom, top false edge and squared off point. Enjoy your trip!!!
 
The Mora's are a very good knife and I can recommend them!

Also, why not have a kydex belt sheath built for your CRKT? Not sure if you have time for this trip, but it sounds like it would make it much more useful for you.

Another option is a SAK paring knife in a kydex sheath. I built and sell a lot of these. The little SAK paring knives are very cheap ($5.00) and cut way beyond their size and price! They are also very light weight and can be worn as a neck knife.

Have a good time!

Tom
 
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